Any experienced Illinois DUI lawyer can tell you that the overwhelming majority of those arrested for DUI are male. Some reasons for this are that men drive more miles than women, men are under more pressure as they are typically the primary breadwinners of a family, men take greater risks and society is more accepting of male excessive alcohol consumption.
However, United States Department of Transportation studies have shown a dramatic increase in female DUI arrests. The same reasons are cited: women are driving more, women have suffered fewer job losses during the recession and thus are often the primary source of family income, and particularly among younger women, there is less social stigma attached to DUI than was once the case.
In earlier times, judges were receptive to a man’s argument that the consequences of a DUI were too severe. He needed to “feed his family”. Not only could he face jail time and loss of driving privileges, but the monetary costs of a DUI would take money out of his pocket and that of his family.
DUI has taken on a whole new dimension. Any judge who shows sympathy for DUI offenders risks being removed from office due to pressure from groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). Similar pleas from women, and the additional claim that they are the primary caregiver of children, will likely be equally unsuccessful in today’s environment.
Many people can manage the financial aspects of a DUI and even tolerate some jail time. They cannot, however, be without a driver’s license for an extended period of time. If you are convicted of a DUI charge, you should consult with a driver’s license reinstatement lawyer.